Building Air Quality Sensors & Inspiring Citizen Scientists

Authors

  • Katrina Mỹ Quyên Lê Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Utah
  • Anthony Butterfield University of Utah
  • Kerry Kelly Chemical Engineering at the University of Utah
  • Pierre-Emmanuel Gaillardon Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) department at The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
  • Kyle Tingey received his B.S. in Computer Engineering (December 2017)
  • Thomas Becnel graduate student at the University of Utah

Abstract

 

 Using low-cost electronic components and building blocks, we have developed an effective teaching module where students design and test light-scattering, air-quality sensors to introduce them to chemical and environmental engineering research. This module has been successful in engaging the public, developing citizen scientists, and bridging gaps in understanding. To date, we have visited over 30 middle school and high school classrooms and over 1,000 students.

Author Biographies

Katrina Mỹ Quyên Lê, Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Utah

 

 Katrina Mỹ Quyên Lê is an aspiring engineer and paid intern at the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Utah where she has worked on teaching module development and outreach as well as sensor calibration within the AQ&U Project. She currently attends high school at the Academy for Math, Engineering, and Science (AMES) in Salt Lake City, Utah and will graduate in the spring of 2018. While she has a long way to go, she is and will continue to be passionate about engineering and STEM as she pursues more of her education.

Anthony Butterfield, University of Utah

 

 Anthony Butterfield is an associate professor (lecturing) at the University of Utah. His research interests center around STEM community outreach, citizen scientist efforts, retention of underrepresented groups, and project-based learning, particularly as applied to first-year students. He has been awarded the GLBT Educator Award from NOGLSTP and AIChE’s 2017 Award for Innovation in Chemical Engineering Education. Tony is a member of the ASEE Chemical Engineering Division's board and AIChE's Societal Impact Operating Counsel.

Kerry Kelly, Chemical Engineering at the University of Utah

 

 Kerry Kelly is an Assistant Professor in Chemical Engineering at the University of Utah. Her work focuses on the links between energy, air quality and human health. Much of her research is motivated by local and regional air-quality challenges. She has a BS in Chemical Engineering from the Purdue University, a MS in Environmental Engineering from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and a PhD from the University of Utah. Dr. Kelly is also active in public policy. She served 8 years on Utah’s Air Quality Board, and she currently chairs Utah’s Air Quality Policy Board.

Pierre-Emmanuel Gaillardon, Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) department at The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT

 

 Pierre-Emmanuel Gaillardon is an assistant professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) department at The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT and he leads the Laboratory for NanoIntegrated Systems (LNIS). He holds an Electrical Engineer degree from CPE-Lyon, France (2008), a M.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering from INSA Lyon, France (2008) and a Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from CEA-LETI, Grenoble, France and the University of Lyon, France (2011).

Kyle Tingey, received his B.S. in Computer Engineering (December 2017)

 

 Kyle Tingey recently received his B.S. in Computer Engineering (December 2017) and is passionate about innovation. Mr. Tingey designed, developed, tested and integrated of a network of 'hyperlocal' air quality sensors for the AQ&U project (aqandu.org). The project deployed 100 sensors outfitted with major hardware upgrades and clever engineering to reduce the cost of similar sensors from more than $5,000 to only $250. The AQ&U sensor development team, under the leadership of Mr. Tingey, managed these upgrades from initial concept through the deployment of these sensor across the Salt Lake valley.

Thomas Becnel, graduate student at the University of Utah

 Thomas Becnel is a graduate student at the University of Utah. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Utah. His research interests are in nanoscale attoFarad capacitive sensing techniques to be integrated into next-generation particle counters and low-cost pollution monitors.

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Published

2018-06-21

Issue

Vol. 52 No. 3 (2018): Summer 2018

Section

Manuscripts